09.26.07 – New Study: No Harm to Disabled, Poor from Oregon’s Aid in Dying Law

Neutral experts’ study debunks false claims of opponents of terminal patient

A new study in the Journal of Medical Ethics has found no evidence of harm or heightened risk for vulnerable groups. The study was conducted by a neutral group of experts who scrupulously and objectively examined available data. The five experts, who hold differing personal views on physician aid in dying, all found no “slippery slope” or disproportionate impact on the physically disabled, chronically ill, people with psychiatric illnesses including depression, or racial or ethnic minorities, the poor, women, the uninsured, the elderly or people with low educational status. Supporters of terminal patients’ end of life choice called for passage of AB 374, the Compassionate Choices Act.

Read the Press Release (PDF)

Read the Study (PDF)

09.18.07 – Compassion & Choices launches End-of-Life Consultation program in California

Today Compassion & Choices launched an expanded End-of-Life Consultation program in California. The program will help terminal patients to access hospice, pain treatment, information on aid in dying options and other excellent end-of-life care.

Volunteers, clergy members and terminal patients spoke in four major cities, pledging their support for the consultation program.

“People of different faiths all agree that life is sacred and worthy of respect and preservation as long as possible,” said Rev. Ignacio Castuera, minister of Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., who spoke at the Los Angeles event. “However, when death is imminent, it is entirely respectful to the sanctity of life to allow a person to decide for himself or herself when and how they can ease their pain and suffering in a dignified manner.”

Compassion & Choices launched the program after Assembly Bill 374 became paralyzed in the Legislature in June. Legislators abandoned their constituents and dying patients who pleaded with them for the legal choice of a peaceful death.

“Dying patients cannot wait for politicians to catch up to their needs,” said Compassion & Choices President Barbara Lee. “We will do our utmost to ensure that no one who comes to us will suffer in their dying, or choose a violent course, or die without loved ones present because they have no other choice. The End of Life Consultation service is a way to avoid tragedies that are 100 percent preventable. We proclaim that aid in dying is neither secret nor shameful.”

Compassion & Choices stood up where lawmakers fell down, offering people legal alternatives to the unsavory, ineffective choices they have.

“The murky legal landscape that keeps aid in dying covert and clandestine leaves caring families trapped between participating in a criminal activity and abandoning their loved ones, just as anti-abortion laws did 40 years ago,” said Rev. Howard Moody. Moody, who helped found the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion 40 years ago, spoke at the conferences via telephone from New York City.

The Compassion & Choices End-of-Life Consultation promises to make every effort to ensure that no one who comes to us will suffer in their dying, choose a violent course, or die alone, without loved ones present because they have no other choice.

To access to End-of-Life Consultation program, please call 800.247.7421.

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06.07.07 – AB 374 Paralyzed by the California Assembly
One day before the June 8 deadline in the Assembly, lawmakers have declined to bring AB 374 to a vote.  The legislation would have given terminally ill Californians the option to request life-ending medications from a physician to hasten an impending death.

Assembly members Patty Berg and Lloyd Levine and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez co-authored the bill and championed the cause valiantly. Berg’s Chief of Staff Will Shuck told the Sacramento Bee, “The people are there, and the politicians aren’t.”

The bill is shelved for the year but could be taken up again in 2008.

06.01.07 – Tell Lawmakers Californians Need AB 374
Some lawmakers are still on the fence and your call, fax or e-mail could make the difference. Visit the Compassion & Choices Action Center for a direct link to your Assembly member:

Go to the Compassion & Choices Action Center now!

05.31.07 – Opponents of Choice Reveal Questionable Tactics
A hired truck sits in front of the California Capitol Building:

05.24.07 – Support growing for Compassionate Choices Act
The list of supporters continues to grow with these latest additions:

National Women's Law Center
National Women's Health Network
California Public Health Association, North

05.09.07 – A Mother Pleads for Passage of California Compassionate Choices Act
"My name is Nancy Kelem. I am 53 years old and live in Silicon Valley. I have a B.S. in Math and Computer Science and an M.S. in Engineering from UCLA."

Read the California Progress Report article

04.27.07 – Herdt: Seeking a better way to die
"Middle-aged, soft-spoken and dignified, Susan Rien stood on a Sacramento sidewalk Tuesday and spoke lovingly about her late father."

Read the Ventura County Star article

04.19.07 – AB 374 in the News
The campaign for important end-of-life decisions contiues to grab headlines. In case you missed it, here are a few articles that have been hitting the newstands:

LA Weekly: The Semantics of Suicide Aid in Dying
Read the LA Weekly article (PDF)

USA Today: Debate rages in Calif. over physician-assisted suicide
Read the USA Today article

LA Times Op-Ed: By any name, suicide bill would ease agony for terminally ill
Read the LA Times article

San Jose Mercury News: Aid-in-dying opponents represent narrow viewpoint
Read the Mercury News Article (PDF)

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